Hairpin dispenser



June 23, 1942. w STERNl 2,287,146

HAIRPIN DISPENSER Filed Feb`. 1o, 1941 immuni "l" Il" "I m "1' William ,Yerze Patented June 23, 1942 UNTED STATES;

vTENT OFFICE i 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to dispensing devices, and particularly to a hairpin dispenser. In the hair-dressing art the hair-dresser operating over a ladys head is confronted with a problem of forming, adjusting and setting into place ornamental hair portions in rapid succession. This procedure requires not only a good deal of skill, but also fast hand manipulation in that as soon as a number of hair ornaments are formed they must be held in their intended shape by one hand, while the other hand picks one hairpin after the other and fastens the ornaments to the head. In present-day practice pins are usually spread on a at tray or are held in bulk in a container. The picking of a single hairpin by one hand is obviously difficult even from a tray, and usually more than one pin is being picked up, or the pins are entangled, requiring the use of both hands, which interferes with eicient op.- eration.

The present device is intended to facilitate the rapid handling of hairpins and to assure thc picking of only a single pin at a time, by `the use of only one hand.

The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a simple, relatively inexpensive, but practical and efcient device, whereby in Vone movement of the hand a single pin is made immediately available for gripping it, Without the possibility of its entanglement with other pins.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the kind indicated, wherein a number of hairpins is suspended on a slant and in a row in such a fashion that all pins are guided against side swing, and so that the lowcrmost pin of the row is placed in a position at which only that pin may be released from the device When the latter is operated.

The foregoing and still further important obu jects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description and the accompanying drawing, which latter, although forming an essential part of the present disclosure, is by no means intended to limit the same to the actual showing, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top View of one form of my device with a portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross section of the device shown in Fig. l along line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View of the device similar to that shown in Fig. 2 in a position at which a hairpin is being ejected;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical cross section taken on lines 4 4 of` Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail view showing one form of the hairpin suspension means;

Fig. 6 is a modified form of my hairpin dispenser shown in longitudinal cross section;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 illustrates another form of hairpin suspension means.

Referring now specically to the drawing, numeral Il) denotes a base from which extends a hollow stationary casing II, with which telescopes and is operatively mounted a hairpin container I2. The latter is supported by compressible means I3, which are adapted to normally urge the pin container in outward direction in respect to the stationary member II. These compressible means preferably are in the form of spiral springs I4, wound about and guided by telescoping posts consisting of xed pins I5, secured to base I0, and sleeves I6Y xedly secured to the bottom of containerV I2. Obviously any other suitable instrumentality -for keeping container I2 in upward position may be substituted for the arrangement shown.

Also xed to base I0 at II is a hairpin ejector I8, in the form of a at blade, corresponding in thickness to approximately the thickness of a hairpin. TheY pin ejector extends vertically through a suitable s lot or opening I 9 provided at the bottom of hairpin container I2. The movement of the"hairpin container in upward directionis preferably limited by a` pin and slot arn rangement provided in posts I3, as indicated at 20 and 2| (see Fig. 4),.

Extending between the short sides of container I2i's a hairpin `suspension and guide element 22, which in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is shown to be sharply bent at the center, as at 23, which bend constitutes the lowest point of the two downwardly slanting legs of the element. In consequence of the slanting legs, hairpin 24 suspended from them are caused to move by gravity toward bend 23, and therefore to the center of the container. The latter is covered by a removable closure 25, which is preferably in snap engagement at 26 with the top'ends of the short sides of the container. At the center of the cover there is provided a pin-ejection guide 21, in the form of a triangular elevation, pressed from the cover material, in the top of which is an elongated aperture 28 for the passage therethrough of a single hairpin, as illustrated in Fig. 3 at 24.

The lowermost point 23 of element 22, aperture 28 and ejector I8 are disposed in a vertical transverse central plane passing through the dispenser. Due to this arrangement, when container I2 is moved downwards by the pressure of two fingers against cover 25, in the manner shown in Fig. 3, the hairpin suspended at bend 23 of element 22, constituting the lowermost pin, will contact with the ends of its legs the top of the ejector I8. Thus while all other hairpins suspended from element 22 are caused to descend, the central pin is prevented from moving downwards, and being directed by guide 2'I into and through aperture 28, is forced to without cover 25, where it may be readily gripped by the two fingers pressing against the cover. Gravity, as well as guide element 22, and the weight of the pins disposed to either `side of central pin 24', will keep the latter in strictly perpendicular position, so that no other pin can be engag-ed by ejector I8 when the device is operated.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6, hairpin suspension and guide element 22 is inclined in one direction only, that is from the higher short side 29 of container I2' towards the lower short side 30 thereof, and at the lower end of suspension element 22' there is provided a pin stop 3I. Removable cover 25', which is also inclined and is disposed parallel with pin suspension element 22', possesses at its lowermost end a pin guide elevation 21', equipped with an opening 28'. Aligned with the latter, and extending from base Il! through the bottom of hairpin container I2', is an ejector I8', intended to serve as support for the lowermost end-pin 24", when container I2 is depressed in a similar manner as described in connection with Fig. 3. Pin stop 3l is designed to form an abutment for the lowermost pin, such as pin 24", and to maintain it in a strictly vertical position within the container so that its `positive engagement by ejector I8' is assured, when the container is depressed.

The hairpin suspension and guide means employed in the containers may differ in cross section. Thus a short upper portion 32 of a solid half-round bar may be used, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 7, or that half-round portion may be provided with spare-outs, as shown at 33 in Fig. 5, or instead of a half-round` bar a round bar 34 of smaller diameter may be employed, as illustrated in Fig. 8. It is essential, however, that the bars possess two important qualities, rst, assuring suspension of hairpins at the least amount of friction, to provide for their automatic progress towards their ejection point, and second, preventing their sidewise swing. This problem is admirably solved by the use of a suspension bar shaped in a manner similar to that indicated in Figs. 4, and 7.

While I have illustrated and described specific structures of my invention, it is quite obvious that changes and improvements may be incorporated therein, and I therefore reserve for myself the right to make such changes and improvements, without departing from the broad scope of my invention, as expressed in the annexed claims.

I claim:

l. In a hairpin dispenser, a stationary member, a movable hairpin container operative in respect to the latter, hairpin suspension means in said container adapted to guide hairpins towards a place of ejection, a hairpin ejector in said stationary member, a container cover having guide means for the top end of hairpins and provided with a hairpin discharge opening `for accommodating a single hairpin, said opening being disposed in a substantially vertical plane of the ejector, and depressible means normally urging the container outwards, a plurality of hairpins carried by the suspension means so that a single hairpin aligns with the ejector and contacts with the latter when the container is depressed, whereby the pin is ejected.

2. In a hairpin dispenser, as set forth in claim 1, said hairpin suspension means being inclined toward the center of the container, and said discharge opening and said ejector being located in the vertical transverse center plane of the dispenser.

3. In a hairpin dispenser, as set forth in claim i, said hairpin suspension means being inclined towards one end of the container, and said discharge opening and said ejector being vertically aligned and disposed nearsaid container end, said hairpin suspension means being provided with a hairpin stop for placing the lowermost hairpin thereon above the ejector and below said discharge opening.

4. In a hairpin dispenser, a base-equipped stationary member, a hairpin container telescoping with and operative in respect to the latter, cornpressible means normally urging said container in outward direction and adapted to limit its outward movement, a snap cover for said container,

an elevated hairpin ejection guide forming part of the cover and provided with a discharge opening accommodating a single hairpin body, inclined hairpin suspension means in said container and beneath said cover, adapted to facilitate the suspension of pins by gravity in a row, the lowermost point of said suspension means being located directly beneath said discharge opening, an -ejector in Vertical alignment with said discharge opening, adapted, when said container is depressed, to prevent a hairpin, depending from the lowermost point of the suspension means, from moving with the container, thereby causing the ejection of the hairpin.

WILLIAM STERN. 

